Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is scheduled to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 18 for the first time since he was injured at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Crosby has missed 11 NHL games since he suffered a lower-body injury on a Radko Gudas check during Canada’s quarterfinal win against Czechia. He also missed the semifinal and the gold medal game loss to the United States.
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The Penguins have gone 5-3-3 in Crosby’s absence to remain in a playoff position, and during five of those games, they were without suspended Evgeni Malkin.
“When you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games … I just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can,” Crosby told reporters.
Malkin had two goals and an assist when he returned from his suspension in the Penguins’ last game.
“He set the bar high,” Crosby said.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Feb. 24: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick for defenseman Brett Kulak.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Feb. 24: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick for defenseman Brett Kulak.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Feb. 4: The Los Angeles Kings acquired left wing Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Liam Greentree and conditional third-round (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Feb. 4: The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 27: The New York Islanders acquired left wing Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 26: The New York Islanders acquired defenseman Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 20: The San Jose Sharks acquire forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round picks in 2026 and 2027, plus defenseman Cole Clayton.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 19: The Vegas Golden Knights acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2028.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 16: The Anaheim Ducks acquire winger Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Anaheim will give up the better of the fourth-rounder previously acquired from Philadelphia and Detroit.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Jan. 8: The San Jose Sharks acquire goaltender Laurent Brossoit, defenseman Nolan Allan and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks for defensemen Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong and a 2028 fourth-rounder.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Dec. 29: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-rounder.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Dec. 19: The Montreal Canadiens acquire center Phillip Danault, right, from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Dec. 19: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire forward Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Dec. 12: The Minnesota Wild acquired Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Dec. 12: The Edmonton Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry and Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick.
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NHL trade tracker: Who changed teams in 2025-26
Oct. 24: The Vancouver Canucks acquire forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Sidney Crosby injury update
Penguins coach Dan Muse told reporters that Sidney Crosby will return from his 11-game absence on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was practicing on a line with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
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Sidney Crosby stats
Despite missing the 11 games, Crosby remains the Penguins’ top scorer this season. He has 59 points in 56 games. This season, he passed Mario Lemieux to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sidney Crosby injury update: Penguins star returning to lineup
